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What Causes Severe Back Pain When Diagnosed With Anklyspondalosis Arthritis?
Question: I am having sever back pain, I have been diagnosed with Anklyspondalosis Arthitis, I have been to the urgent care, and the ER in the past week, I have Broke a vertibra in my lower back and I have a couple of bulging discs. I have had a C-5/C-6 fusion. Lately my sciatica has been going crazy due to my work in a warehouse. All that they keep offering me is pain Meds and I don't take Pain Meds. I would like the situation fixed, but I can't even get them to do an MRI to pinpoint the problem. I can't get into a doctor for weeks. What am I not saying or asking the doctors that I should be.
I'm also getting electrical type sensations in my shoulder. I'm getting stabbing in various place all over my body.
I'm also getting electrical type sensations in my shoulder. I'm getting stabbing in various place all over my body.
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Arthritis is a chronic disease. It is a condition which can be slowed down with medication, but it can't be reversed, as the spine takes more wear and tear over the years it will progress. The fact that you are continuing working in a warehouse certainly isn't going to help as it puts even more extra weight to your spine. So while I understand your desire for it to be fixed, you have to understand that you might have to make some compromises.
There are two main reasons for which a MRI is usually considered necessary. One would be if it is feared that compression of nerve roots or the spine may leave neurological deficits, that is feared when there is motor weakness, bladder sensation issues etc. I suppose you do not have those or the ER doctors would certainly have ordered an MRI.
The other motive would be pain which doesn't respond to lifestyle modifications and pain therapy, to check if surgery is would help to alleviate the intense pain. Now since you seem to be continuing the same work lifting weights and refuse to take pain medication then you should try to put yourself for one moment in your doctors shoes, they may be thinking that it is a tolerable pain. So since no surgery is considered what is the purpose of the MRI, whether there is disc bulging or not no intervention will be needed, only pain med and physio. In that case why order an expensive medication which won't change management in any way. I hope you see my point.
So the thing that a patient should tell me to convince me a MRI is needed would be that even with avoiding physical exertion, physical therapy and over the counter pain meds he/she is in severe pain. I am not sure if that is what you wanted to hear, but I hope that you understand the reasoning.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Arthritis is a chronic disease. It is a condition which can be slowed down with medication, but it can't be reversed, as the spine takes more wear and tear over the years it will progress. The fact that you are continuing working in a warehouse certainly isn't going to help as it puts even more extra weight to your spine. So while I understand your desire for it to be fixed, you have to understand that you might have to make some compromises.
There are two main reasons for which a MRI is usually considered necessary. One would be if it is feared that compression of nerve roots or the spine may leave neurological deficits, that is feared when there is motor weakness, bladder sensation issues etc. I suppose you do not have those or the ER doctors would certainly have ordered an MRI.
The other motive would be pain which doesn't respond to lifestyle modifications and pain therapy, to check if surgery is would help to alleviate the intense pain. Now since you seem to be continuing the same work lifting weights and refuse to take pain medication then you should try to put yourself for one moment in your doctors shoes, they may be thinking that it is a tolerable pain. So since no surgery is considered what is the purpose of the MRI, whether there is disc bulging or not no intervention will be needed, only pain med and physio. In that case why order an expensive medication which won't change management in any way. I hope you see my point.
So the thing that a patient should tell me to convince me a MRI is needed would be that even with avoiding physical exertion, physical therapy and over the counter pain meds he/she is in severe pain. I am not sure if that is what you wanted to hear, but I hope that you understand the reasoning.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I am not averse to surgery if nessessary. Pain medications on the other hand I am, I am a workaholic thus I push myself too far, pain medication is a bad thing. Pain is the only thing I have that tells me "hey idiot stop"! Knowing is half the battle, right. I was having issues of blatter and bowel control that is why I went to the ER this last time along with a hard time breathing, felt like my chest was being squeezed. If they would have even given me an x-Ray to see if another disc has screwed up or if there was even too much inflammation to see anything it would have told me something I could have worked with.
Seeing my work health care doesn't start until the 9th and I've been avoiding using my state insurance. Now I remember why, everytime I've gone in for something (rarely) I've been jerked around and ended up worse off.
Seeing my work health care doesn't start until the 9th and I've been avoiding using my state insurance. Now I remember why, everytime I've gone in for something (rarely) I've been jerked around and ended up worse off.
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the update and sorry for answering a little late.
While it is evident that you are a strong individual and do not fear surgery you must understand that it has its possible complications (and not always effective), so it is indicated only when medications have failed. Further more the role of surgery in spinal treatment for pain is controversial in the medical world, there are studies which have shown that in long term the outcome is similar with or without surgery, surgery only accelerates pain reduction. It also doesn't cure diffuse arthritis of the spine, it may address one site where there is a compressing bulge or bony spur, but doesn't do anything for arthritis at other levels (I am thinking about your shoulder pain).
I admire your strong will and desire to work, but while knowing is half the work, it is not useful if you do nothing with that knowledge. What we know is that you have a chronic condition of the spine which is worsened by putting extra load on the spine....so I believe what needs to be done is clear. Even if you have a MRI or surgery now your spine won't get younger over the years and if you continue to put to much strain on it you are bound to have problems again sooner or later.
Regarding X-ray I fear unless there is a suspicion of a fracture it wouldn't be of much help. For disk herniation a MRI or at least a ct is needed.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the update and sorry for answering a little late.
While it is evident that you are a strong individual and do not fear surgery you must understand that it has its possible complications (and not always effective), so it is indicated only when medications have failed. Further more the role of surgery in spinal treatment for pain is controversial in the medical world, there are studies which have shown that in long term the outcome is similar with or without surgery, surgery only accelerates pain reduction. It also doesn't cure diffuse arthritis of the spine, it may address one site where there is a compressing bulge or bony spur, but doesn't do anything for arthritis at other levels (I am thinking about your shoulder pain).
I admire your strong will and desire to work, but while knowing is half the work, it is not useful if you do nothing with that knowledge. What we know is that you have a chronic condition of the spine which is worsened by putting extra load on the spine....so I believe what needs to be done is clear. Even if you have a MRI or surgery now your spine won't get younger over the years and if you continue to put to much strain on it you are bound to have problems again sooner or later.
Regarding X-ray I fear unless there is a suspicion of a fracture it wouldn't be of much help. For disk herniation a MRI or at least a ct is needed.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you I do admire your honesty and forwardnes. I respect you. I spoke with my bosses and told them I needed another day to ice, heat and stretch, urgent and ER only gave me a 1/2 day to recover off not thinking about me working Mid-nights. I went in and spoke with my supervisors and let them know the situation, and the suspicion that 10 hrs leaning into a 4' deep bin 2 stories up on a weaving "order picker". I requested time away from that particular job for recovery then a rotation schedule with other workers. This place I work at does things a little backwards. I have also contacted the owner of the company and let him know of the problems we are working with that could cause issues. So I'm not blindly and arbitrarily sticking my head in the sand, I don't want this happening to others. Now yes I have age and more prior injuries from breaking horses back in the day.
I have an appointment, with a pain and non-surgical back clinic the 14th. But realistically I can not take that much time off.
I have an appointment, with a pain and non-surgical back clinic the 14th. But realistically I can not take that much time off.
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your kind words.
I am glad that you are taking a few steps to ease the load on your spine. I hope that it will help inflammation go down until your appointment, I know how intense and disabling sciatica can be.
Really wishing you feel better soon.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your kind words.
I am glad that you are taking a few steps to ease the load on your spine. I hope that it will help inflammation go down until your appointment, I know how intense and disabling sciatica can be.
Really wishing you feel better soon.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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